New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS): Pakistan carried out ceasefire violation twice on Saturday by firing with heavy arms across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Army said.

The Army said Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in Mendhar sector in Poonch district from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Pakistani troops again started firing across the Line of Control in Nowshera Sector in Rajouri district.

"Our troops retaliated befittingly," said the Indian Army.

The ceasefire violations by Pakistan across the Line of Control (Loc) in Jammu and Kashmir has almost doubled with around 3,200 instances reported so far compared to last year, Defence Ministry sources said on Saturday, adding in 2018, there were 1,629 such incidents.

Pakistani Army is continuously firing in Keran Valley, Poonch, Uri Sector, Krishna Ghati and Akhnoor sectors, said Defence Ministry sources.

In December 2019, around 340 incidents were reported, which are twice the count of last year's incidents with 175 cases. A senior Indian Army officer said though winter ceasefire violations are low, but this time, the number is at an all-time high.

Since abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has increased ceasefire violations.

Compared to 2017 violations across the LoC, the violations have tripled over 2019. In 2017, 860 incidents were reported. The number of such violations was 228 in 2016.

The Pakistan Army has also intensified attacks on Indian posts, sending in their Border Action Team (BAT) commandos. The Pakistan Army through these violations, has been making desperate attempts to infiltrate terrorists, but the Indian Army has foiled many such attempts, sources added.